"Easy." Helios settled Kenzo beside him.
"Just don't open your eyes now or else lights are going to hit you from everywhere." Cassiel warned.
Kenzo twitched his brow, "I know it already. Quit repeating it over and over again."
Alan amused over their chat grinned.
"Wohoo!!" suddenly the crowd cheered as their attention once again turned towards the ground.
"Huge!!" Aigou and Azazel gasped at a massive six struck towards the off side crowd.
"Oh my goodness!" the middleschoolers gulped, awed.
Rauf, Haruf and Evan silently observed the field. "It was again Senior Senri. It's like he's become a run making machine." Heber titled.
"Feng Mir Ozer is the real charm though." Musa pointed.
"Feng?" Xavier repeated.
Musa nodded, "Senri is doing everything he can to make sure he comes out of his fear right now. He hasn't scored even a single boundary. The reason Senri's so aggressive, is because he is making up for Feng's runs as well. He is not just focusing on his own performance… he is focusing on his junior's as well. In other words Feng is his motivation right now someone he desperately wants to change and mentor."
Kenzo listened wordless.
"This is the power, leadership and support of a senior." Mikael agreed.
This time the middleschoolers all remained silent, for there was no doubt. Feng on the striker's end and Senri on the non-striker's one, after the end of the first half of the first innings (10 overs) tapped their fists together, beaming brighter than stars.
They were having fun, Feng was having fun. There could be no more speculations anymore.
The seniors they have, on the front are arrogant, harsh, unpleasant and awfully strong but from the inside they are kind, worrisome, generous, compassionate, and their supporters on the front line. Just realizing that thought felt awfully strange to the middleschoolers.
"I am glad." Xavier whispered contented.
"Me too." Seraph agreed.
"Us as well." Helios added.
"The thing we are realizing right now, Alan had already told that to us long ago." Cassiel recalled.
The highschoolers glancing at their juniors unusual smiles shrugged their shoulders clueless.
"But that doesn't anywhere near mean we like them." Adam whispered nonchalant.
"Yeah, we don't." the middleschoolers agreed.
And back to square one again… (What was the point of even realizing everything? Sigh~)
After a short drink break, the 11th over once again was handed to Abaan continuing the game. "Karachi's accumulated runs now standing at 93 at a loss of 2 wickets and run rate 9.3. A 100 approaching for Karachi, Feng Mir Ozer strikes a brilliant partnership with Senri Ibn Daud for 25 deliveries played. What more are those two kings going to show us in 2nd half or will Peshawar demonstrate their dominance on this field?" commentators summarized.
Elias smiled hearing their conversations, "Sometimes, it's awfully boring when you already know the results."
"Is that so?" Musa glanced behind, "But, I am envious of you right now. Had I been the owner of this ability… we wouldn't have lost even a single match back in our time."
Nidou recalled smirking, "Not even that single one."
Elias curious asked, "Which one?"
"The once we lost against South Africa. It was huge blow for us." Nidou reminisced.
"We lost without even giving a fight." Musa smiled looking ahead in the distance, "Haiz… have we just not fought amongst ourselves that time. Maybe, things would have been a little different."
Nidou remained silent.
"You still won didn't you? What's the point of recalling something like that?" Evan asked.
Musa shook his head, "Nothing… we just drifted apart despite grabbing the trophy together. Our hearts had drifted apart. Maybe we shouldn't have…" he trailed into silence at the end. His brows furrowed.
Elias wondered over his words as Aigou patted his shoulder. "We won't fight." he assured. Elias looked up.
"Yeah, even if Rauf tries to get rid of us, and these little juniors start hating us. We won't drift apart. I promise you that. I might not be the best person to say this but I won't let that happen." Ren guaranteed.
Nidou grinned, "Alright. I leave that task to you. Finally some responsibility off this seat's head."
Mir exhaled annoyed, "I suggest you even give your job to someone else as well."
"Rauf, you take it." Pedro offered.
"No, thank you. I am better off remaining the devil. I don't want become Satan." An unusual amusing remark.
"Pft! Haha!" Aaron dabbed his back.
"Wow, is this coming from you? I am impressed." Isa praised.
Alan too chuckled.
"Aren't you bored, sitting here alone?" Seraph asked tapping his shoulder, soon settling down beside him.
"Bored? No way. You all are behind my back and the ground is in front of my eyes, the crowd is cheering all around. How can I be bored?" Alan replied contented.
Seraph surprised, raised his hand ruffling his hairs out of the blue, "That's good."
Alan blinked puzzled.
Feng taking the striker's end, Senri studied the changed fielding positions amid the over. "Point, cover, Mid-off, Mid-wicket, Shortfine leg inside the 30 inched circle. And outside the circle, long on, Deep cover, deep backward square leg and third man." "They have bowled two dots straight away and Aaban's bowling length has also changed…" he studied, "I am not worried for Feng against spin but before pacers arrive in the death overs…"
Bowling the third ball of the over, Feng struck the ball towards the long on, calling, "Senior Senri, Run!"
A single run taken, Senri twirled his bat taking position. "In that case, I'll have to make sure… Feng scores a boundary within this over." he thought reading the delivered ball. "Nullify…" he whispered, striking the ball between Mid-wicket and mid-on, taking 2 more runs.
"Nile, hurry!" Abaan called, as Nile tossed the ball to back to him who immediately struck it on the wickets.
"OH!!" the crowd went as Feng panted diving on the non-strikers end puzzled. The umpire observing for a while shook his head signaling a 'Not out' still issuing a decision to the third umpire.
"We'll have an umpire decision here however, Feng was inside the crease, it was clearly visible." the commentators conversed.
Feng slightly anxious laid straight on the ground staring at the sky, his heart beating wildly.
Senri came over giving his hand, "Come get up. It isn't a wicket. I assure you."
Feng grabbing his hand stood up, his gaze meeting Nile's who smirked. Feng now irritated clenched his fists as Senri smiled, "Finally…" "Do it." he said.
Feng blinked, "Huh?"
"If you are angry than raise your bat high off the ground, Feng." Senri advised patting his back, "If not off the ground then, full speed on the ground instead."
A 'Not Out' shown on the big screen.
"Au~" the crowd went disappointed.
"Goodness that scared me." Ezekiel breathed a huge sigh of relief.
"It was a not out, Feng was clearly inside the crease." Nagi uttered nonchalant.
"They were just messing with us." Kazuna told, "One amongst many ways to wound our confidence."
Helios observed the highschoolers who sat unfazed. "It's like they know what the result will be just by a glance." he thought.
The last ball of the 11th over. Abaan rushed towards the popping delivering an off spinner. Nile standing on the cover. Feng exhaled squinting his gaze, a moment of hesitation however, memories of yesterday overflowing. He lifted his bat and struck the ball with force gracefully towards the deep mid-off outside the fielders grasp for a four.
"A cover drive! Feng hits a four!" Adam cheered clapping his hand.
"Yeah, and we achieve a 100." Ryan clapped.
The ball that went past Nile into the boundary, he turned to him sneering, "So you're challenging me now?"
Feng narrowed his gaze, "You bet I am!" No hesitancy, no fear. He will stand right here. This was his dare! Refreshed and happy, Feng clapped his hand against Senri's.
"Good boy." Senri ruffled his hairs proud. However, a moment later. "Augh~!" he moaned yawning.
Feng looked at him puzzled.
"That's it, my job's done. My back is not helping me anymore. I am going back." Senri complained.
"Pardon?" Feng was forced to utter, "But we have a match to win and you're close to your half century as well…"
"No worries…" Senri interrupted exchanging sides, you are ready to rock now. Today's lesson is over."
Feng confused, went to the non-striker's end, "Lesson? Job? What does that mean…?"
Zaki taking the 12th over rubbed the ball, ready to go.
"He is the left handed unorthodox spinner, in who's over Senri smacked those fours and sixes. He must be boiling right now." Ren spoke metaphorically.